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Page 515
His frantic effort seemed to spur the men around him. For a few minutes the battle raged with such violence that Owain could not have found breath to speak even if he had been beside Ian. Then, there came a little pause. Men were still pouring up the laddersthree had been set close together at this vulnerable spot so that the oil and throwing stones were exhaustedbut they were grouping to attack rather than running singly into combat.
Ordinarily, Ian would not have permitted that. It was far more dangerous to fight a coherent group than individual men. However, two factors held him back from urging his men to attack. The defenders were so exhausted, that the few moments' respite might be of greater benefit to them than the increased danger from a concerted attack. The narrow space on the wall prevented too large a group from being effective in any case. More important than that to Ian was the sound of Owain's voice. Only a matter of crucial importance could have brought Owain from his post.
''My lord," Owain gasped, "an army comes. We saw them from the back. They come from the east. Many men, and steel armed."
Rigid, with muscles tensed to combat exhaustion, Ian's expression did not change. His dark eyes were fixed upon the men grouping for attack. This news was either salvation or deathbut there was no way to determine which. Then through the dull glazing of pain and fatigue, fire lit Ian's eyes. Since death was sure no matter what they did, if this was a reinforcement for their enemy, there was no reason to hold the walls. They could ride out and meet their fateand the fate might be salvation. It was very unlikely that support for Gwenwynwyn would come from the eastunless this was part of the king's work, and the army was his mercenaries. An army from the east should be either Alinor's men or his own northerners.
"We live or we die," Ian said and smiled. "It is hard

 
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